What to do and where to eat, sleep, drink, shop

Four years after being hit by a series of earthquakes, Christchurch is buzzing with life again. Here’s the low-down on this gorgeous New Zealand city:

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Sleep

If a central location is an important factor in your hotel checklist, The George (pictured; doubles from NZ$455 or Rs18,800) comes up trumps. It’s situated by Hagley Park and River Avon and within walking distance of attractions such as the Canterbury Museum. With 53 rooms and a guest-to-staff ratio of 1:1, this luxury hotel promises attentive service. Contd…

Photo: Website of Eliza’s Manor Boutique Hotel

Sleep

Another good option is Eliza’s Manor Boutique Hotel (pictured; from NZ$235 or Rs11,750). The original structure dates back to 1861 and has gone through several incarnations—as a private residence, boarding house and private hospital. Today, this quaint eight-room property also offers space and facilities (such as catering) for events and conferences.

Photo: Aaron Lee

Eat

For those who like their food organic, Strawberry Fare is their best bet in the city. It offers a number of vegetarian, vegan and gluten- and dairy-free options. Pick between poached eggs and pancakes or crispy corn and capsicum fritters. The lunch and dinner menus consist of classics such as Caesar salad, duck confit, and beef fillet (pictured). And there’s the Ultimate Chocolate Dessert, in which chocolate fudge brownie, chocolate ice cream, chocolate mousse and chocolate paté are thrown together. Contd…

Eat

For a meal that can be had on the go, head to Velvet Burger; try the Homegrown (lamb and salad greens with beetroot and horopito chutney) or the Velvet Lady (grilled chicken breast, bacon, avocado, cheese and salad greens). The eponymous Velvet Burger combines the flavours of venison, grilled pineapple and salad greens. For heart-warming Asian food, look no further than King of Snake(pictured), which offers authentic Thai fare, and Kinji for Japanese.

Drink

A cosy wine bar and restaurant, Shop Eight (pictured) specialises in wines from the region and meals that are made using local produce. Built in 2014, the establishment is a standing example of Christchurch’s resilient spirit: it uses materials salvaged from the earthquakes—such as reclaimed wood—in its décor. Then there is Tequila Mockingbird, which is a must, and not only for its clever name. This Latin fusion bar serves a wide variety of original drinks and cocktails that are themed around the Caribbean and South America, with live music or a DJ spinning at the console. Contd…

Photo: 123Rf

Drink

If whisky’s your poison of choice, then look no further than The Last Word, one of the few bars in Christchurch dedicated to this spirit. Located in a heritage building from the 1930s, the bar also serves beer, wine and classic cocktails. It opens as early as 4pm (2pm on weekends), which makes it perfect for a quick drink before a night on the town. Or just kick back with a fine Scotch in the snug den on the upper level.

Photo: David Wall / Alamy Stock Photo

Shop

Christchurch is justifiably proud of Re:START, a small community of boutiques, gift shops, bookshops, food stalls and alfresco cafés made entirely of colourful shipping containers (pictured). It sprung up in response to the 2011 earthquake, as a pop-up retail space that would draw citizens back into the city centre, but its success may allow it to stay forever. If you’re here around lunchtime, chances are you’ll get to hear delightful music performances by buskers. Contd…

Shop

Away from the city centre, The Tannery(pictured), in an industrial neighbourhood that was wrecked by the quakes of 2010 and 2011, is now attracting a whole new crop of artists and other creative folk in different fields. It’s home to a collective of artisanal food producers, indie label stores, fine-dining restaurants and bars.

Do

Make your way to Hagley Park, spread over 400 acres, for a spot of absolute quiet. Go punting on RiverAvon or ride around the city centre on the heritage tram (pictured). Contd…

Do

In the evening, take the gondola up to the top of Port Hills, for stunning 360° views of the city.